• Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa lead Africa in 2025 innovation
• WIPO ranks innovation using 80 indicators across 139 countries
• Morocco hits record high; Senegal, Namibia show strong progress

Mauritius, Morocco, and South Africa are the most innovative African countries in 2025, according to the Global Innovation Index 2025, a report released on Tuesday by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The study, titled "Global Innovation Index 2025: Innovation at a Crossroads," analyzes the innovation performance of 139 countries based on 80 indicators across seven pillars, including institutions, human capital, research, infrastructure, and market and business sophistication.

Top Ten African Economies

Mauritius ranked 53rd globally, confirming its role as a regional leader. According to the report, the island nation’s strong institutions, high-performing education system, and pro-investment policies have boosted its innovation capabilities.

Morocco climbed to 57th place, its highest-ever ranking, a result of sustained policies in renewable energy, industrialization, and digitalization. South Africa, ranked 61st, maintained its position as a regional powerhouse due to its network of top universities and a vibrant research and development ecosystem.

Behind the top three, the Seychelles ranked 75th, making progress through the digitalization of public services and a focus on sustainable development. Tunisia, at 76th, held its spot among the continent's most innovative economies, thanks to its quality human capital and dynamic tech sector.

Egypt ranked 86th, solidifying its status as a digital hub in North Africa with a rapidly expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem. Botswana, at 87th, continued to advance, leveraging its stable governance and growing financial and service sectors.

Senegal, ranked 89th, was highlighted as an "outperformer" relative to its level of development, driven by its vibrant startup ecosystem and the rise of venture capital. Namibia also saw significant progress, reaching 91st place, supported by investments in education and institutional reforms. Lastly, Cape Verde, at 95th, was buoyed by a surge in mobile services and government initiatives supporting tech entrepreneurship, despite a slight drop in its global ranking from the previous year.

While no African country cracked the global top 50, the report points to several positive trends. The upward mobility of economies like Morocco, Senegal, and Namibia highlights the growing diversity of innovation drivers across the continent.

Internationally, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United States topped the rankings, reaffirming their status as the world's most innovative economies.

Samira Njoya

Based on the "Global Innovation Index 2025" report, here is the ranking of the most innovative African countries: